Daytona Beach, FL – There’s no second-guessing Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s confidence heading into the 2025 Daytona 500. The defending race winner is fired up and laser-focused, ready to seize his moment once again on NASCAR’s biggest stage.
After 14 years of hard-fought battles on the high banks, Stenhouse knows what it takes to win the Great American Race. He proved it in 2023, surviving the chaos and etching his name into Daytona history. Now, the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet driver is hungry for more.
“We’ve put ourselves in position to win the last three years in a row—’22, ’23, and ’24. We’ve led each of them right at the end. Obviously, we won in 2023, but I feel like we’ve had the opportunity to win all of them. Hopefully, we can just put ourselves in position again and get it done.”
Hyak Motorsports: A New Era, Same Stenhouse Swagger
This season marks a new beginning for Stenhouse’s team, as JTG Motorsports rebranded to Hyak Motorsports under new team principal Gordon Smith. Despite the shake-up, Stenhouse is embracing the change and believes this fresh direction could elevate his game.
“We’ve made a lot of changes on the competition side—hired some key people that are going to help elevate our program. Gordon loves racing, he’s a motorsports junkie. It’s really cool to have him as our owner. I’m looking forward to getting him his first win as a full-time owner.”
Executing the Daytona 500 Game Plan
The Daytona 500 isn’t just about speed—it’s about strategy, survival, and split-second decisions. Stenhouse knows that racing smart is just as important as racing fast, and his approach is calculated:
✔ Save Fuel.
✔ Avoid the Big One.
✔ Have flawless pit stops.
✔ Be in striking position with 15-20 laps to go.
“You do that, and you’ll have a great opportunity to win. You want to be at the front with around 15 to 20 laps to go, battling for the lead. That’s when you have a shot to win.”
The Mindset of a Champion
If there’s one thing Stenhouse isn’t lacking, it’s confidence in his ability to conquer Daytona.
“In speedway racing, one of the key things to being good is having the mindset that you can win—and that you will win.”
With a powerful Chevrolet, a revamped team, and a fearless approach, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. isn’t just showing up to race—he’s showing up to make history. Again.
Buckle up, NASCAR fans. The No. 47 is coming for that checkered flag.
